依次
yī cì · HSK 6
in order
1️⃣2️⃣ yī cì sounds like one time — and one-at-a-time IS in order
依 (yī) means to depend/follow, 次 (cì) means time/occurrence. Together: following one occurrence after another, i.e. sequentially. The pinyin even echoes English one-次 = one time each.
依 — person radical 亻 + clothing 衣
A semantic-phonetic compound: 亻(person) gives the meaning of relying on someone, while 衣 (yī, clothing) supplies the sound. The original sense pictured a person leaning on or wrapped in clothing, extended to the modern meanings of 'rely on,' 'depend on,' and 'according to.'
次 — 冫 ice + 欠 yawn/lack
Originally depicted a person (欠) sighing or hesitating, with 二 (later written 冫) marking repetition or a secondary position. The core sense developed from 'second in order' or 'next' into related meanings like 'sequence,' 'time/occurrence,' and 'inferior quality.'